Report Fugitive Ex-Monk Returns from Germany, Faces Temple Fund Charges

[snoop1130]

Picture courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

After seven years on the run, Phra Phrom Methee, a former assistant abbot of Wat Samphanthawong in Bangkok, has returned to Thailand to face charges related to a major temple fund embezzlement scandal. The 84-year-old, whose lay name is Chamnong Iamintra, arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport from Frankfurt early on Thursday morning.

 

Arriving in a wheelchair, Phra Phrom Methee was swiftly escorted to Bangkok's Anti-Corruption Division for questioning. His return marks a significant development in a case that shook the foundation of the Thai Buddhist community when it first emerged.

 

In 2018, a scandal erupted involving the embezzlement of millions of baht intended for temple development and Buddhist studies, with funds allocated by the National Office of Buddhism. Phra Phrom Methee was one among seven monks whose monastic ranks were revoked due to alleged involvement in the financial misconduct.

 

On May 24th of the same year, police conducted raids on Wat Samphanthawong, Wat Sa Ket, and Wat Sam Phraya in Bangkok, aiming to apprehend senior monks linked to the scandal. However, Phra Phrom Methee was in Phitsanulok province at the time and managed to evade capture. Instead of returning to Bangkok, he travelled to Nakhon Phanom, crossed into Laos via the Mekong River, reached Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, and finally fled to Germany on a Qatar Airways flight from Frankfurt.

 

Not only was he stripped of his monastic status, but he was also expelled from the Sangha Supreme Council, marking his complete fall from grace within the monastic community.

 

A police source indicates that Phra Phrom Methee faces charges of supporting malfeasance and money laundering. Despite denying all allegations, he was released on a bail set at 400,000 baht. His return and the ensuing legal proceedings are expected to shed more light on the extensive corruption case and its impact on Thailand’s religious and financial sectors. The nation watches closely as this high-profile case continues to unfold.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-06-06

 

 

[blaze master]

Yet so much anger the other day about the graffiti.

[hotchilli]

I bet he had a really good time in Germany... only came home to get planted soon.

[1duckyboy]

21 hours ago, blaze master said:

Yet so much anger the other day about the graffiti.

Graffiti by a foreigner. 

[zepplin]

21 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Picture courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

After seven years on the run, Phra Phrom Methee, a former assistant abbot of Wat Samphanthawong in Bangkok, has returned to Thailand to face charges related to a major temple fund embezzlement scandal. The 84-year-old, whose lay name is Chamnong Iamintra, arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport from Frankfurt early on Thursday morning.

 

Arriving in a wheelchair, Phra Phrom Methee was swiftly escorted to Bangkok's Anti-Corruption Division for questioning. His return marks a significant development in a case that shook the foundation of the Thai Buddhist community when it first emerged.

 

In 2018, a scandal erupted involving the embezzlement of millions of baht intended for temple development and Buddhist studies, with funds allocated by the National Office of Buddhism. Phra Phrom Methee was one among seven monks whose monastic ranks were revoked due to alleged involvement in the financial misconduct.

 

On May 24th of the same year, police conducted raids on Wat Samphanthawong, Wat Sa Ket, and Wat Sam Phraya in Bangkok, aiming to apprehend senior monks linked to the scandal. However, Phra Phrom Methee was in Phitsanulok province at the time and managed to evade capture. Instead of returning to Bangkok, he travelled to Nakhon Phanom, crossed into Laos via the Mekong River, reached Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, and finally fled to Germany on a Qatar Airways flight from Frankfurt.

 

Not only was he stripped of his monastic status, but he was also expelled from the Sangha Supreme Council, marking his complete fall from grace within the monastic community.

 

A police source indicates that Phra Phrom Methee faces charges of supporting malfeasance and money laundering. Despite denying all allegations, he was released on a bail set at 400,000 baht. His return and the ensuing legal proceedings are expected to shed more light on the extensive corruption case and its impact on Thailand’s religious and financial sectors. The nation watches closely as this high-profile case continues to unfold.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-06-06

 

 

 

21 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Picture courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

After seven years on the run, Phra Phrom Methee, a former assistant abbot of Wat Samphanthawong in Bangkok, has returned to Thailand to face charges related to a major temple fund embezzlement scandal. The 84-year-old, whose lay name is Chamnong Iamintra, arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport from Frankfurt early on Thursday morning.

 

Arriving in a wheelchair, Phra Phrom Methee was swiftly escorted to Bangkok's Anti-Corruption Division for questioning. His return marks a significant development in a case that shook the foundation of the Thai Buddhist community when it first emerged.

 

In 2018, a scandal erupted involving the embezzlement of millions of baht intended for temple development and Buddhist studies, with funds allocated by the National Office of Buddhism. Phra Phrom Methee was one among seven monks whose monastic ranks were revoked due to alleged involvement in the financial misconduct.

 

On May 24th of the same year, police conducted raids on Wat Samphanthawong, Wat Sa Ket, and Wat Sam Phraya in Bangkok, aiming to apprehend senior monks linked to the scandal. However, Phra Phrom Methee was in Phitsanulok province at the time and managed to evade capture. Instead of returning to Bangkok, he travelled to Nakhon Phanom, crossed into Laos via the Mekong River, reached Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, and finally fled to Germany on a Qatar Airways flight from Frankfurt.

 

Not only was he stripped of his monastic status, but he was also expelled from the Sangha Supreme Council, marking his complete fall from grace within the monastic community.

 

A police source indicates that Phra Phrom Methee faces charges of supporting malfeasance and money laundering. Despite denying all allegations, he was released on a bail set at 400,000 baht. His return and the ensuing legal proceedings are expected to shed more light on the extensive corruption case and its impact on Thailand’s religious and financial sectors. The nation watches closely as this high-profile case continues to unfold.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-06-06

 

 

One of the reasons I’d never give 2 bht to a temple, it’s just a nation wide scam , to bleed money from the poor so monks can build the bigger temple than the next monk! Way to much money is just totally wasted, same as the Catholic Church… 

[LiorW]

If his monastic ranks were revoked, I believe he's no longer entitled to be called Phra 🤔

[BritManToo]

18 minutes ago, zepplin said:

One of the reasons I’d never give 2 bht to a temple, it’s just a nation wide scam , to bleed money from the poor so monks can build the bigger temple than the next monk! Way to much money is just totally wasted, same as the Catholic Church… 

But they will feed and house anyone that asks!

Along with free hot or cold water to visitors.

[2long]

6 months in PGH and then let him go.

[IvorBiggun2]

The story is insignificant compared to the Abbot who embezzled 300 million Baht last month.

 

Quote

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/thai-monk-with-apparent-gambling-problem-arrested-over-12m-temple-embezzlement

 

[Suetape]

“and finally fled to Germany on a Qatar Airways flight from Frankfurt”. 
He travelled to Germany all the from Frankfurt?

[Zakhar]

9 hours ago, IvorBiggun2 said:

The story is insignificant compared to the Abbot who embezzled 300 million Baht last month.

 

 

 

 

I was wondering how he spend that much money

[Kinok Farang]

13 hours ago, Suetape said:

“and finally fled to Germany on a Qatar Airways flight from Frankfurt”. 
He travelled to Germany all the from Frankfurt?

If you read it carefully it says he travelled to Germany to eat a Francfurt.

Of course you have to read between the lines.

[watchcat]

14 hours ago, Suetape said:

“and finally fled to Germany on a Qatar Airways flight from Frankfurt”. 
He travelled to Germany all the from Frankfurt?

 

Obviously he skipped some geography lessons at school.

[IvorBiggun2]

5 hours ago, Zakhar said:

I was wondering how he spend that much money

Gambling.

[BangkokReady]

On 6/6/2025 at 5:18 PM, snoop1130 said:

His return marks a significant development in a case that shook the foundation of the Thai Buddhist community when it first emerged.

 

In 2018, a scandal erupted involving the embezzlement of millions of baht intended for temple development and Buddhist studies, with funds allocated by the National Office of Buddhism.

 

Sounds fairly standard.

[BangkokReady]

18 hours ago, zepplin said:

One of the reasons I’d never give 2 bht to a temple, it’s just a nation wide scam , to bleed money from the poor so monks can build the bigger temple than the next monk! Way to much money is just totally wasted, same as the Catholic Church… 

 

It doesn't matter where the money goes.  If you give the money, you get the karma and you get to post about it on Facebook.  That's it.